The Town of Oro Valley is spending about $50,000 to renovate a 9-hole golf course to try to make the game cool for kids, families and beginners.
The town purchased 45 holes of golf as part of its acquisition of the El Conquistador Country Club in a controversial deal last year.
In the past five years, use of the 9-hole executive course has dropped nearly 40 percent, said Rob DeMore, vice president of operations for Troon, which contracted with the town to run the golf business.
At a public meeting at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort Thursday, DeMore outlined golfβs downturn to an audience of about 65 people, mostly residents of the golf-course neighborhoods.
Golf has been slow to adapt to changing culture and different demographics, he said.
But he has a plan.
The 9-hole course will reopen toward the end of next month as Pusch X9, a family-friendly course.
People will still be able to play golf there, of course, but there will be a lot of different versions of golf available too. One is colorful glowing balls and paths for evening games. Another is βgolf boards,β which are like surf boards you ride to get to the next hole more quickly.
Even more options will include foot golf, which uses a soccer ball, and bullβs eye golf.
The cups will be large and there wonβt be a stuffy dress code β something that keeps a lot of young people away from the game, DeMore said.
The new concept is both βperfect for kids and those new to the gameβ and βintended to create a solid fiscal return,β he said.
He estimated it would cost $100-$200 for a family of four to golf at Pusch X9.
The goal is for 15,000 people a year to use Pusch X9, DeMore said.
Town Manager Greg Caton said he likes the creative thinking involved in the rebranding. βItβs thinking of the golf course in a different mindset,β he said.
The renovations, including rebuilding some bunkers, will cost under $50,000, Caton said.
